The Plenti Credit Card from Amex

Bankrate Score

Great card for those who shop at Plenti partners, otherwise take a pass.

This card offer is currently unavailable on Bankrate. To see more cards in this category, please visit our 0% apr category page.

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Editor’s note: This offer may no longer be available.

American Express has a side hustle. In addition to Membership Rewards points, the issuer also has the Plenti program, which allows users to accrue points from participating vendors. The Plenti Credit Card from Amex can help to accelerate earning Plenti points.

Review

American Express wants your allegiance, so much so that it created a loyalty program and the Plenti Credit Card from Amex to pair with it.

Launched in 2015, the Plenti program is a cross-brand platform that lets you earn points at one retailer in the Plenti network and use them at another participating retailer. Participating companies include Macy’s, ExxonMobil, AT&T Mobility and Winn-Dixie supermarkets. If you do a lot of your spending at one or more of the partners, you could earn a nice stash of rewards, which you can then redeem for discounts and savings.

The Plenti Credit Card from Amex earns 3 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 a year, 2 points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, and 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Using this card can boost your Plenti stash accrual much faster than just being a Plenti member. For example, using another card at Winn-Dixie will earn you 1 Plenti point for every $2 spent there: if you spend $100 at Winn-Dixie, you’ll earn 50 Plenti points.

Use the Plenti Credit Card from Amex at Winn-Dixie for that $100 purchase, and you’ll earn 300 Plenti points. One hundred Plenti points is worth $1 in savings.

The card also comes with an easy sign-up bonus of 5,000 points, worth $50, if you spend $250 within the first 3 months of opening the account, and an introductory 12-month 0 percent APR offer on purchases.

Are there better rewards programs? Yes, but this one extends across a wide enough range of retailers that you can likely earn points without going out of your way. The biggest downside of Plenti is it requires you to keep track of which merchants participate and how many points you’re accruing. You may just want to get gas or shop at the most convenient location without having to search for the closest Plenti partner.

The rewards rate on this card is exactly the same as the American Express Blue Cash Everyday Credit Card, except that card pays cash back rewards and the Plenti pays Plenti points, which can in turn be used for discounts. If you’re trying to choose between the two, the Blue Cash Everyday Credit Card is the clear winner just for ease of use.

Who should get this card

Anyone who shops regularly at Plenti partners and is active in the Plenti loyalty program.

Advantages

A top-notch rewards rate on supermarket spending.

Use of this card within the Plenti network can amp up your savings.

Disadvantages

There's a limited number of participating vendors.

You can only redeem points with Plenti partners.

Unused points expire after two years.

You may get better value from different types of rewards cards.

Fees and APR

There’s an introductory 12-month 0 percent APR on purchases. After that, a variable APR of 15.99 percent to 25.99 percent will apply.

There’s no annual fee.

This card has a 2.7 percent foreign transaction fee.

If you miss or make a late payment a penalty APR of 29.9 percent will apply for at least six months, plus you’ll be subject to a late fee of up to $38.

Extras, perks and using points

The card also includes American Express’ travel protections like roadside assistance, auto insurance and global emergency help.

This card also offers American Express presale access for select events.

To redeem your points, a minimum of 200 points is required. You can either present your Plenti card at checkout at a participating Plenti retailer or enter your number at an online retailer for online purchases.

How this card compares

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

5% back at Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership; otherwise 3% back

5% back on Whole Foods Market purchases with an eligible Prime membership; otherwise 3% back

2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drug stores.

1% back on all other purchases.

This card offer is currently unavailable on Bankrate. To see more cards in this category, please visit our 0% apr category page.

Credit Needed

Excellent

Regular APR

14.99% to 22.99%, based on your creditworthiness. These APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.

Annual Fee

No Annual Fee.

Balance Transfers Intro APR

If you’re looking to earn maximum rewards back on your everyday shopping, you may want to consider the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card. The card is free with a $99 Amazon Prime membership and the card pays 5 percent back on all Amazon.com purchases. Depending on how you spend, this card may result in greater net earnings for you.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase — it's automatic

Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening

0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.24-24.99%. Balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum

Credit Needed

Excellent/Good

Regular APR

16.24% - 24.99% Variable

Annual Fee

$0

Purchase Intro APR

0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months

Balance Transfers Intro APR

0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a solid, straightforward cash-back rewards card that’s ideal for cardholders who just don’t have the time or energy to track spending categories. It ranks among the very best cash-back credit cards we track.

There are other cards that offer better rewards, but the Freedom Unlimited’s 1.5 percent cash back on everything is an excellent reward coming from a no-annual-fee credit card.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

$150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.

No annual fee.

3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%).

2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores, 1% back on other purchases.

Low intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable rate, currently 14.24% to 25.24%.

Expanding merchant acceptance: Over 1 million more places in the U.S. started accepting American Express® Cards in the last year.

Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.

Credit Needed

Excellent, Good

Regular APR

14.24%-25.24% Variable

Annual Fee

$0

Purchase Intro APR

0% on Purchases for 15 months

Balance Transfers Intro APR

0% on Balance Transfers for 15 months

Depending on your spending habits, the no-annual-fee Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express may ultimately give you better cash-back earnings with a rate of 3 percent at supermarkets, 2 percent at gas stations and select department stores, and 1 percent on all other spending.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

$200 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.

6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) - that means spending $60 a week at U.S. supermarkets could earn over $180 back per year.

3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores, 1% back on other purchases.

Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable rate, currently 14.24% to 25.24%.

Expanding merchant acceptance: Over 1 million more places in the U.S. started accepting American Express® Cards in the last year.

$95 annual fee.

Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.

Credit Needed

Excellent, Good

Regular APR

14.24%-25.24% Variable

Annual Fee

$95

Purchase Intro APR

0% on Purchases for 12 months

Balance Transfers Intro APR

0% on Balance Transfers for 12 months

If you can get over the idea of paying the $95 annual fee, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express is a must-have card in the wallet of any big grocery shopper. The 6 percent cash-back reward at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 in spending each year, then 1 percent, is the most lucrative available in this category.

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